Causes and solutions for flickering of photocatalytic xenon lamps

In photocatalytic experiments, xenon lamps—key devices for simulating sunlight—sometimes exhibit flickering, which can affect the accuracy and reproducibility of results. The causes of xenon lamp flicker are diverse, mainly including power supply stability, bulb aging, thermal management issues, and external interference.

First, a xenon lamp is a high‑intensity gas‑discharge lamp and a nonlinear light emitter whose spectrum most closely resembles sunlight; it is commonly used in studies such as water splitting for hydrogen production and photodegradation of pollutants. However, xenon lamps undergo nonlinear decay over their service life, causing fluctuations in output intensity. For example, over a 4‑hour period the fluctuation range may exceed 10%, which is directly attributable to unstable power control or bulb aging. If the power supply has large ripple or the supply mode is improper (e.g., not using constant‑current or constant‑irradiance modes), flicker can easily occur, undermining the uniformity of photocatalytic reactions and the accuracy of data.

Second, inadequate thermal management is also a common cause. Xenon lamps generate high heat during operation; if the cooling system is poor (e.g., fan failure or suboptimal design), temperature oscillations can lead to unstable light output and flicker. In addition, external factors such as electromagnetic interference or experimental setup errors (for example, optical path blockage or incorrect electrode orientation) can also cause flicker, which is especially common in photoelectrocatalysis experiments.

To address these challenges, our products provide advanced solutions. Take the MICROSOLAR300 xenon light source as an example: it uses dual modes of constant current and constant irradiance and employs a built‑in optical feedback module to monitor and adjust light intensity in real time, ensuring output stability with periodic instability below ±1%, effectively reducing flicker. At the same time, the product integrates a precision cooling system, combining a copper‑and‑aluminum heat dissipation structure with temperature sensors to optimize thermal management and prevent fluctuations caused by overheating. These features make it particularly suitable for photocatalytic CO2 reduction, water photolysis, and similar experiments, improving data accuracy and experimental efficiency.

We also offer troubleshooting and optimization recommendations, such as program‑triggered operation to extend lamp life, helping users perform in‑depth analysis of catalytic reactions and ensure results are accurate and reliable. In short, understanding the causes of xenon lamp flicker and adopting reliable equipment are key to successful photocatalytic research. Our products—characterized by high stability, ease of use, and safety—support researchers in overcoming technical challenges and advancing green energy development.